04 December 2012

THE LULA PROJECT

This project is for Lula Neave Walker Murray, who died on December 4, 2011 after a challenging eighteen months on this earth.

Lula taught us that everyone has something to contribute, so we asked people to create a "Lula" in her honor and memory and send it to us. Thus far we have received over 100 Lulas from friends, family, and total strangers from all over the world. If you would like to contribute to the project please email me a jpeg of your "Lula" with your name and location to mwalkerphoto@me.com

We learned from Lula that no ones' worth is determined by their wealth, talent, ambition, or status. A life of value is possible to anyone with a willingness to affect others lives for the better. Lula was a little girl who couldn't even hold up her own head, but could routinely galvanize others to see themselves and this world in a new light.

In her brief time with us she taught us what is truly important; not your IQ, SATs, the pedigree of your college, the importance of your job, the size of your house, the speed of your car, the firmess of your abs, or the artisinalness of your tomatoes. All that is meaningful is that we take care of those we love and that we are good and generous to everyone. To us this project has proven exactly that.

Thank you, Lula Neave, for teaching us everything we ever need to know.

5 comments:

Dear Micaela, I noticed that there are not many comments and I hope you don't mind the intrusion. This is stunning. No words could describe the love pouring out of these pictures. I think it is so strange that in a few days I have been struck so by something that could have flown by in the ether. I don't usually read anything but food blogs, I am the picture next to the word "cynical", Anytime a mom or child is hurting, I say the prayer and then shut it out before the pain of my own experience can get to me. I vacillate between anger and numbness. I hate it.For some reason I looked. and read. and watched. I have been letting myself mourn for Riley in a way I haven't let happen until now. Lula at the beach is the most beautiful effing thing I have ever seen in my life. Period. It has started a shift in me and I wanted to comment for the moms who maybe are afraid to.

Not at all. I want people to feel free to comment! I'm so glad you feel like this is a place where you can talk. This is a hard thing to find the space in daily life to talk about with other people, but I feel like it's important to try to find words. Somehow even of you don't find the words, the attempt helps to shift everything around and the experience finds an ever evolving place in your life.

I just looked through all the photos and I can't begin to describe how they have made me feel. It was so sad, so beautiful, so amazing, so touching, so gentle and quiet, so real. I dunno, I'm just overcome.

WHO AM I?

My name is Micaela. I am a New York City girl, born and raised. My husband Sam and I live in Brooklyn. We have talents, interests, and lives outside of our kids but this blog is mostly about our kids Roan and Lula and my life as a mom. They were born June 11, 2010. Lula Neave died on December 4, 2011. My life in between those two days and beyond are depicted and expressed in the images and words of this blog.